Running with Scissors (R)

I didn't get this book. My sister and brother both handed me Augesten Burroughs's book a couple of years ago and told me I had to read it. I did and wasn't impressed. Burrows had a traumatic childhood, no doubt. He encountered crazy characters -- including his mother -- and had insane experiences. But does that make him a good writer? Not in my opinion. Does the craziness give his story redeeming literary qualities? If so, I still don't see them.

So Emily dragged me to the movie (blah blah It's my birthday blah blah) and it was pretty disappointing. Take my thoughts on the book and add to it a movie full of choppy scenes, overly dramatic moments, and disappointing performances (what happened, Gwenyth?) and you had our group of six rolling our eyes and waiting for it to end. Emily wished it had stayed more true to the book but I'm not sure I would have liked that either.

Annette Bening's performance, though, I gotta say, was impressive as Augusten's nutty mother.

Good for Burrows for dealing with his memories but I think I'll skip his next books and movies.